Polks Again or go different

Sherardp
Sherardp Posts: 8,038
edited February 2014 in Speakers
Guys I'm in the middle of putting together the new HT room. I'm trying to decide on what speakers would be good to try. I find it hard to go wrong with the RTi12s, but since I sold them before leaving Japan ( a friend wanted them really bad) I'm now looking to purchase.

So what do you guys think about KEFs Q900s or Definitive Technology 8080STs? I'd be buying matching center, going with Polk RC80is in ceiling for side surrounds, either KEF/Def Tech for rear surrounds depending on which I go with. My budget is about 3-3500 so if I can save a buck then I'd be really happy as I have to put some funds toward a new screen as well.

My game room will have all Polks so I'd like something a little different in the Home Theater room. Thoughts?
Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
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Comments

  • NJPOLKER
    NJPOLKER Posts: 3,474
    edited February 2014
    I say go POLK or go home!

    Funny thing is I am a 2 channel guy and know little about HT. My heart is with POLK
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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited February 2014
    NJPOLKER wrote: »
    I say go POLK or go home!

    Funny thing is I am a 2 channel guy and know little about HT. My heart is with POLK

    I feel the same way bro. Hard to pass them up. Loved my RTi12s, but sold them as a friend in Japan was having a hard time getting a set shipped to him.
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
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  • rpf65
    rpf65 Posts: 2,127
    edited February 2014
    Price for performance wise, it is hard to beat Polk. If you want a different sound, and it is going to be 100% HT, you may also want to give Klipsch a listen. Personally I would go with RTI A series from Polk, but I really like my A5's, so some bias there.
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited February 2014
    I would try to listen to Paradigm, PSB, and Wharfdale prior to making a decision. It's easy to blindly recommend Polk speakers as it's hard to go wrong, however if you can you should listen to some of the competitive set.
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
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  • zane77
    zane77 Posts: 1,696
    edited February 2014
    Really like the RTiA's that I have in my HT. Listened to the Def Tech's but I liked the Polk's better.
    Home Theater
    Onkyo PR-SC5508 Sharp LC-70LE847U
    Emotiva XPA-5 Emotiva XPA-2 Emotiva UPA-2
    Front RTi-A9 Wide RTi-A7 Center CSi-A6 Surround FXi-A6 Rear RTi-A3 Sub 2x PSW505
    Sony BDP-S790 Dishnetwork Hopper/Joey Logitech Harmony One Apple TV
    Two Channel
    Oppo 105D BAT VK-500 w/BatPack SDA SRS 2.3 Dreadnought Squeezebox Touch Apple TV
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  • apphd
    apphd Posts: 1,514
    edited February 2014
    If mantis doesn't see this you may want to shoot him a PM. It's been a while since I've been around CP (been busy with other things) but last I knew he was running Definitive Technology Mythos, and he probably has some worth while thoughts on what you are looking at. BTW welcome home.
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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited February 2014
    I'm looking around and will try to get my ears on something, but bang for buck I can't find anything that matches up. At least not yet. The KEF set up puts me around 3250.00 and the Def Techs around 4000.00. I can get the Polks for 2540 ish. Its hard to beat those RTiA9s and center with surrounds for that pricing.
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
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  • jeremymarcinko
    jeremymarcinko Posts: 3,785
    edited February 2014
    I thought the $800 a pair (new) for Rti12's on Polk EBay store was to good to pass up. Considering $1500 a pair for A9's. Of course the A9's are much prettier.
    Oh, Listen here mister. We got no way of understandin' this world. But we got as much sense of this bird flyin in the sky. Now there is a lot that bird don't know, but it don't change the fact that the world is happening to him all the same. What I am tryin to say is, is that the course of your life, well its changing, and you don't even see it- Forest Bondurant
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  • PolkieMan
    PolkieMan Posts: 2,446
    edited February 2014
    There is some nice deals at Polks ebay store

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/LSiM707-MT-VERNON-CHERRY-Tower-Floorstand-Speaker-Polk-Audio-EACH-/390757388784?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item5afaf491f0
    POLK SDA 2.3 TLS BOUGHT NEW IN 1990, Gimpod/Sonic Caps/Mills RDO-198
    POLK CSI-A6 POLK MONITOR 70'S ONKYO TX NR-808 SONY CDP-333ES
    PIONEER PL-510A SONY BDP S5100
    POLK SDA 1C BOUGHT USED 2011,Gimpod/Sonic Caps/Mills RDO-194
    ONKYO HT RC-360 SONY BDP S590 TECHNICS SL BD-1
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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited February 2014
    PolkieMan wrote: »
    There is some nice deals at Polks ebay store

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/LSiM707-MT-VERNON-CHERRY-Tower-Floorstand-Speaker-Polk-Audio-EACH-/390757388784?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item5afaf491f0

    I like your 707 recommendation, but I have never heard them. I know they are cream of the crop, but who carries them? I'd love to hear what they can do, especially HT wise.
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,776
    edited February 2014
    If I were to go full Home Theater with little regard to music and did not mind large speakers in my room I would do the following -

    BP3000TL or BP7000SC
    CLR3000TL x 2 (upper and lower center)
    BPVX x 4
    Dual PB13 Ultras

    This would crack foundations and make small children cry.
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • B Run
    B Run Posts: 1,888
    edited February 2014
    I'd trade my setup for that Def Tech setup any day, even though i'm happy with it. I've always liked their speakers, especially for HT use. Have you considered Klipsch reference, for 100% home theater I think they're very hard to beat. Nothing against the Polk's at all but the Klipsch are so efficient and crazy dynamic. I feel like the Def Tech's are a nice compromise between the two.
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,201
    edited February 2014
    I think with your budget limitations the RTIA series is going to be tuff to beat. They are a much better cleaner refined version of the RTI series IMO.
    I'll never forget the first time I heard the RTIA7's go with Audioquest wire and a Pioneer Elite VSX receiver I forget which one it was now but I was working at Tweeter at the time when all the new model came in and we all sat down for a listen after they where playing for a few days. Everyone in the room thought they where the very best sounding under a 1k price ever to grace the store. Thats say ing a lot considering all the awesome line we carried as Tweeter and as Bryn Mawr Stereo and Video.
    I sat and ran them for a few hours and really took to them. I started really pushing them on jobs I would walk for our salesman and spec them in as much as possible where they made sense. Even the entire line of In wall and In ceiling speakers where awesome considering the full retail asking price.

    The Def Tech BP series of today is a pretty big step up in overall performance over the RTIA line from polk. You would have to shop the LSIM series to compete with the Def Tech's. Sandy Gross is a Audio genius IMO and really knows how to engineer a speaker. The Mythos series IMO is still the best overall anything Def Tech has made but the new BP series is something very special.
    I would absolutely own the BP 8080 full system as I have Installed it many times and it just performs at such a high level. It's not a bad way to go especially coming from polk. You still retain a few things from polk in the Def Tech line. It's like coming home to a fresh remodeled house or something. It's hard to explain but you can tell they came from polk.

    Honestly though I would also very seriously consider upping you budget if you can and really dig into the LSIM line. I demo'd the 703's and thought this is some magical work polk pulled off. I however wish they offered a Maple Finish as I probably would strongly consider replacing my Mythos system with a full LSIM system. But sadly to say, I never got to hear a center channel or a floor standing model. I would love to demo a full LSIM system and really dig in. Judging them from the 703's only I can't see myself not loving them for the new few years or so.

    Good luck man , it's exciting times getting new speakers. It's something I haven't done in a long time now being so happy with the ST's. I have tried to replace them a few times as I have this internal clock that goes off every few years and I would a full new speaker package. The LSIM's almost made me travel down that path and seeing how much you really enjoyed the RTi's , I think you might really love the LSIM's.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,092
    edited February 2014
    Sherardp wrote: »
    I'm looking around and will try to get my ears on something, but bang for buck I can't find anything that matches up. At least not yet. The KEF set up puts me around 3250.00 and the Def Techs around 4000.00. I can get the Polks for 2540 ish. Its hard to beat those RTiA9s and center with surrounds for that pricing.

    Well, I must chime in here & give a big thumbs up for the KEF Q series, in particular the Q900's...awesome speakers. Their Q600C & the Q800DS are dynamite also. That Uni-Q driver from KEF is incredible. You might want to check this site here for the KEF's http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/brand_category/KEF/1.html I bought the center, surrounds, & 100's from them & the transaction was flawless. I swear they are brand new speakers. You'll save around 1k with them.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • toucanet
    toucanet Posts: 580
    edited February 2014
    I've been on the lookout for a pair of these: BP7000SC

    I should have bought them when I saw them come up a couple of months ago on A'gon, but hesitated for no good reason and missed the opportunity.

    VR3 wrote: »
    If I were to go full Home Theater with little regard to music and did not mind large speakers in my room I would do the following -

    BP3000TL or BP7000SC
    CLR3000TL x 2 (upper and lower center)
    BPVX x 4
    Dual PB13 Ultras

    This would crack foundations and make small children cry.
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited February 2014
    pearsall001 wrote: »
    Well, I must chime in here & give a big thumbs up for the KEF Q series, in particular the Q900's...awesome speakers. Their Q600C & the Q800DS are dynamite also. That Uni-Q driver from KEF is incredible. You might want to check this site here for the KEF's http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/brand_category/KEF/1.html I bought the center, surrounds, & 100's from them & the transaction was flawless. I swear they are brand new speakers. You'll save around 1k with them.

    I'm gonna go with Phil on this one. If I were upgrading my HT. I'm pretty sure I would go KEF. Great price to performance value there and they'd also do two channel in a pinch. Dynamic, good balance, full range, etc.

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,776
    edited February 2014
    I really disliked the Q series enclosures.

    I would never own them again because of the enclosures.
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • gmcgee78
    gmcgee78 Posts: 12
    edited February 2014
    Polks are the best for the money. I have the monitor system for a HT setup and my friends think I paid twice as much for them. I would like to hear the LSIM series but I don't know anybody that has them.
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